Horse rider hit by undertaking cyclist during triathlon (source Facebook).JPG
Cycling UK says that participants in Windsor Triathlon filmed passing a horse closely at speed during the cycling leg of Sunday’s event were “completely irresponsible” and has told road.cc that it is working with the British Horse Society to draw up new advice on how people on horses and bikes can safely share space, both on and off the road.
> How to pass horse riders safely on your bike
The updated advice was already being worked on ahead of video of the incident emerging on Sunday on Facebook, where it has been viewed more than 4 million times, and in the wake of that footage Cycling UK says there is a “clear incentive” to issue it in the coming weeks.
> Police probing triathlon cyclist's undertake of horse rider
Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, said: “This video shows a number of cyclists passing the horse and rider, on both sides, far too close and way too fast.
“Their behaviour, whether through ignorance or thoughtlessness, was completely irresponsible, and endangered the horse, the rider and themselves.
“Given all of Cycling UK’s efforts to increase awareness of the dangers of overtaking cyclists too close, it’s frustrating that these people did not pause to think about the consequences of their own actions on other vulnerable road users.
“Clearly more needs to be done to raise awareness, which is why Cycling UK and the British Horse Society are working closely on an education campaign for people whether they’re riding bikes or horses,” he continued.
“We’re looking to launch this advice in the summer months, and it will demonstrate with a little bit of thought and consideration, just how easy it is to avoid incidents like this.”
The horse rider concerned has been in contact with Human Race, the organisers of the event, as well as with police.
Human Race has said that if the riders – one of whom struck the horse and rider as he undertook them – can be identified, it will exclude them from any future events it organises.
Its investigation of the incident is being handled in partnership with British Triathlon, the sport’s governing body in the UK.
Born in Scotland, Simon moved to London aged seven and now lives in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with his miniature schnauzer, Elodie. He fell in love with cycling one Saturday morning in 1994 while living in Italy when Milan-San Remo went past his front door. A daily cycle commuter in London back before riding to work started to boom, he's been news editor at road.cc since 2009. Handily for work, he speaks French and Italian. He doesn't get to ride his Colnago as often as he'd like, and freely admits he's much more adept at cooking than fettling with bikes.